Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty! Chapter 1691 - 697: Zhao Ji: I'll Protect You

Silence descended upon the entire assembly as those words were uttered. Every individual present had witnessed the awe-inspiring 'Heavenly God Cataclysm' years ago and possessed some insight into the events that transpired behind the scenes. Even if the complete truth remained elusive, most could form educated guesses. Now, with the North God King voicing it so directly, a hush fell over everyone.

Perhaps fueled by his mounting anger, the North God King broke the silence a few seconds later with a grumble, "Anyway, all those who tread the 'Order Path' cause nothing but trouble!"

"They're either power-hungry control freaks or cunning manipulators."

Qiu Tu: ???

Caught in a reverie, Qiu Tu had been meticulously analyzing the intricate details of the 'Heavenly God Cataclysm.' Suddenly, he found himself unjustly scrutinized, as if reprimanded for no reason. He lifted his head, a look of utter bewilderment on his face, only to be met by the collective gaze of everyone present. The four God Kings and Zhao Ji were all inconveniently staring directly at him. Not only them, but even Zhao Ji offered a slight nod, seemingly concurring with the North God King's assessment.

Qiu Tu: .....

Since when did I become a cunning manipulator? Aside from my usual inclination towards the 'dark side,' haven't I consistently acted with integrity? This is truly vexing!

This is tarnishing my reputation!

At this precise moment, as Qiu Tu grappled with these thoughts, the East God King, Longchuan Ying, interjected.

She cast a disdainful glance at the North God King and remarked coldly, "Beize, you remain as ineffective as ever."

"For the glory of one general, ten thousand bones wither. To ascend to the pinnacle, sacrifices are inevitable."

"Ensuring the safety of this world is already a formidable task. Do not hold your standards excessively high."

"Besides… why are we even dredging up these ancient events?"

"What transpired back then is in the past; it cannot be altered."

"The paramount concern now is… the emergence of a new generation of Heavenly Gods."

As she spoke, her gaze, sharp and venomous like a serpent's, settled upon Zhao Ji and Qiu Tu. She continued, "Based on the impressions I've gathered, this 'Heavenly God Trial' is poised to produce at least two or three new Heavenly Gods."

"As long as they exist within this realm, our own power will inevitably diminish."

"Conversely, our continued presence here will serve to suppress their strength to a certain degree."

"This presents an irreconcilable conflict."

"And furthermore…" Longchuan Ying paused, then resumed, "This matter extends beyond our personal interests."

"Zhao Ji is isolated, lacking family or companions, but Qiu Tu has connections."

"His companions, his beloved, his friends – even his people – all reside in this world."

"Even if an agreement is reached for him to depart this realm… can he truly find peace entrusting all these vital lives to your care?"

"How is that any different from holding them hostage?"

At this juncture, Longchuan Ying couldn't resist fanning the flames further: "Even if he professes indifference, can you truly place your trust in him?"

"Do not forget… he is a deity of the Order Path."

Qiu Tu: ….

Upon hearing Longchuan Ying's words, the North God King let out a hearty chuckle. "Haha."

He declared, "Longchuan Ying, there’s truly no need for you to interfere. Having accepted Qiu Tu's invitation, you can be assured that I have thoroughly considered all potential consequences."

"Do you genuinely believe a few words from you are sufficient to sway my allegiance?"

Hearing his response, Longchuan Ying emitted a soft sigh. Her attention pivoted to the panda avatar of the Southern God King before she addressed him directly, "I had initially intended to grant you an opportunity for survival."

"However, it appears… you do not value it."

"Therefore, do not hold me accountable for disregarding our past camaraderie forged on the battlefield."

As she uttered these words, Longchuan Ying slowly extended her hand. Instantly, a silvery whip materialized, piece by piece, assembling in her grasp. A sharp 'Crack!' accompanied a sudden flick of her wrist, the whip's crisp sound reverberating throughout Dragon Burying City.

In response, the North God King and the Southern God King's panda avatar surged into the air, preparing to confront her directly. In the blink of an eye, the three God Kings were locked in combat. Simultaneously, Zhao Ji casually remarked, "I shall return shortly," before launching her own assault, her sword slicing directly towards the West God King. Soon, the five supreme Heavenly Gods were engaged in a fierce exchange of blows. The Cataclysmic Power surged, its tremors akin to collapsing mountains and roaring seas that radiated in every direction. It was solely due to the 'Edge Region' having completely merged with the 'Boundless Heart Sea' that it could withstand the shockwaves of such a colossal brawl; otherwise, survival would have been impossible.

Observing the chaotic brawl unfolding, the sole individual among the six who remained motionless, Qiu Tu, displayed no hint of satisfaction.

The reason being… this turn of events was far from his intended outcome.

His intelligence had been incomplete, leading him to believe there was no fundamental animosity between the two factions. Consequently, when his contingent boasted four Heavenly God-level combatants, capable of matching the East and West God Kings in power, he anticipated that the East and West would either retreat or seek a negotiation.

This scenario would have played directly into his strengths, his particular forte. With his persuasive rhetoric, he could have convinced the East and West God Kings to withdraw, thereby granting his own side the invaluable breathing room needed for their advancement.

If they could just endure for a single day, the Heavenly God Positional Frames would be allocated, enabling both himself and Zhao Ji to achieve the ranks of Heavenly Gods.

At that juncture, their roles would be reversed, transforming defense into offense.

However, who could have foreseen such a twist? It was only today, upon hearing the North God King speak, that Qiu Tu grasped the irresolvable nature of the conflict between the Heavenly Gods and the Pseudo-God Kings.

This realization proved to be a significant setback, implying that a fight to the very last would be almost inevitable between the two sides.

Adding to the complexity of the situation… even with the incorporation of Baiyi and the North God King to their ranks, Qiu Tu's faction remained outmatched by the combined might of the East and West God Kings.

The East God King's power level was estimated to be at the high-tier Heavenly God stage, bordering on the peak, while the West God King was situated at the mid-tier Heavenly God level.

The North God King’s cultivation hovered near the mid-tier Heavenly God realm, and Baiyi’s clone, at best, could be classified as a junior Heavenly God.